Road Travelled On Track For Adelaide Cup

SOUTH Aussie revelation Road Travelled is one of the key local hopes looking to keep a powerful Victorian contingent at the door when the Group 1 Adelaide Cup gets underway at Angle Park this Thursday night.

Trained by Lewiston conditioner Steve Brook, Road Travelled – a big striding son of Black Magic Opal and Lemon Tree Girl – has gone from strength to strength since transferring over from NSW earlier this year, winning 10 of his 14 SA appearances.

"Running fast times was never the issue when he was in NSW with Glen (McKinley) it was just his consistency – he turned up here in outstanding order," explained Brook in the lead up to Thursday night's group 1 heats.

"I picked him up off the plane on a Sunday back in June and Glen said to me he's not there for a holiday so I trialled him at Gawler on the Thursday and he went 22.60 – two tenths off the track record, dogs' shouldn't be able to do that.

"It's taken a lot of work at home to get the mental side of him right. He's not the smartest dog in the world at home, extremely placid and mopy but he's switching on in his races now and is far more consistent. I must say he was educated really well, he turned up fit and ready to go … just immature."

WATCH: The recent win of Road Travelled at Gawler

Winner at 13 of his 31 starts overall, Road Travelled has been installed a $2.70 favourite to take out the third heat of Thursday night's Adelaide Cup qualifiers, tackling highly talented Victorian Seal The Deal (box two), group 1 winner Crash Bandicoot (box six) and recent SA Derby placegetter Weblec King (box seven).

"If I was framing the market I wouldn't have him favourite – I'm a big believer in class and experience going into these races," added Brook, who speaks with some authority having been the Angle Park bookmaker in days gone by.

"In a perfect world, the Adelaide Cup would be on in three months time but it's on now and he's racing with confidence so he's earned his chance.

"I've been really careful about growing his confidence so I've tried to place him as best I can and keep him in his grade. Thursday is a big step up, it would surprise me if he doesn't drift in the market by race time."

From a talented litter that's won 63 races and counting, Road Travelled, current holder of the Murray Bridge 395m track record, is one of eight greyhounds Brook has in his care for NSW-based McKinley, who he's struck up a solid rapport with in recent times.

"Tim Aloisi recommended me to Glen and it's gone from there – he's got eight here now including Magic Begins who won at Gawler on Friday," explained Brook.

"I've had some handy dogs over the years but nothing the caliber of Road Travelled.

"His big thing is getting room to move in the first 20-30m, he's a long barreled animal that needs to get into his stride. If he gets that and can run his own race on Thursday he'll be thereabouts.

"He'll need to be, there's no second chances."